Flight tickets and hotel stays for contest winners of MATTA Penang
FLYING business class from Penang to Paris will be a dream come true for property agent Leesa Cheah after she won the top prize in a Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair Penang 2026 contest.
The return ticket means Cheah, 46, will finally get to visit the French capital later this year.
“I never imagined I would be flying to Paris, but there is a first time for everything and I’m looking forward to the trip.
“I’ll probably book another ticket so my husband can join me for the holiday,” she said after receiving her prize during the Buyers’ Contest prize presentation ceremony in Batu Ferringhi.
Cheah said she had visited the MATTA Fair to purchase tickets for a family holiday to Osaka, Japan.
“We visit the MATTA Fair every year to book our family holidays, and this year we’ll be travelling to Japan.
“I didn’t think much about the contest, so winning came as a pleasant surprise,” she said.
Clerical employee Pauline Maung, 50, who won the second prize of a business class return ticket to Brisbane, said she was excited to explore another part of Australia.
“This win was totally unexpected. My husband, daughter and I had just returned from Shanghai, which was a package we bought at the MATTA Fair in April.
“We’ve been attending the fair for about 10 years because we like the travel packages on offer.
“Now we’ll turn this prize into another family holiday,” she said.
Financial controller Kew Lee Ming, 43, took home the third prize, a business class return ticket to Narita, Japan.
“My husband, our two children and I just returned from Osaka last month and loved it.
“Now we’re planning another trip during the next school holidays,” she said.
Kew said her family qualified for the contest after booking a tour for 10 people to Yunnan, China.
“This was our first time booking a tour through the MATTA Fair, so the win feels like beginner’s luck,” she said.
Other prizes included economy class return tickets to Incheon, South Korea; the Maldives; Taipei, Taiwan; Chengdu, China and Hanoi, Vietnam as well as hotel stays in Penang.
MATTA Penang chapter chairman Carolyn Leong said this year’s fair, held for the first time at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC), recorded its highest-ever sales.
“We achieved record sales of RM47mil and welcomed 52,817 visitors.
“Visitors had a choice of travel packages from 330 booths represented by 120 exhibitors, covering both domestic and international destinations.
“These results would not have been possible without the support of our exhibitors, partners, sponsors, government agencies, and visitors,” she said.
Leong also thanked sponsors for contributing prizes to the Buyers’ Contest, including official airline partners Malaysia Airlines and Firefly.
A total of 57 prizes were offered in the contest.
MATTA president Nigel Wong attributed the fair’s success to the continued support of consumers.
“The focus has always been on our buyers. Without their continued support, the MATTA Fair will not be where it is today.
“Tonight is a celebration of all our buyers,” he said.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, who was the guest of honour, said the strong turnout and record sales reflected Penangites’ continued enthusiasm for travel.
